Dexterou Few people know of this film, for me it introduces a young Gary Oldman, who stands out in this star laden movie. This came out the same time as other huge movies, so it is a virtual unknown. But I urge you to watch it, for not only Oldman, as an unleashed, crazy mobster, to whom life is always lived on a knife edge. But for Sean Penn, who delivers a double sided policeman, living on his nerves working undercover in extreme conditions. Then Ed Harris, a polished mobster, who I feel never gets justice for his abilities. This is genuinely a top mob film, gone largely unnoticed, which deserves better, (even just for the arson scene with Oldman and Penn), scary, yet electric!. A must see film!.

SnoopyStyle Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) returns to Hell's Kitchen to find it gentrified. His old friend Jackie Flannery (Gary Oldman) is still a lowlife killer. His ex Kathleen Flannery (Robin Wright) is now working in an uptown hotel. Their old brother Frankie Flannery (Ed Harris) is the cruel leader of an Irish gang. Stevie McGuire (John C. Reilly) is also in the gang. Pat Nicholson (R.D. Call) is Frankie's right hand man. Frankie kills nice kid Stevie. Terry turns out to be a cop and begging his handler Nick (John Turturro) to pull him out.There are some strong performances. Gary Oldman is the standout as the wild criminal. Sean Penn pulls it back a little and form a perfect pair with Oldman. It may be better to reveal Terry sooner. It's best to do it at the end of the introduction. It opens up his inner conflict and allows for a deeper character. The music is memorable with the haunted tones.

jcbutthead86 State Of Grace is an excellent,powerful and underrated Gangster Film/Crime Drama that combines wonderful,atmospheric direction,a terrific cast,an amazing,gritty script and a outstanding film score. All of those elements make State Of Grace an incredible film that is Gangster/Mob movies at it's best.Set in the Hell's Kitchen,Manhattan section of New York City,State Of Grace tells the story of Terry Noonan(Sean Penn),a guy that returns to Hell's Kitchen after a ten year absence and gets back together with old friend Jackie Flannery(Gary Oldman)and soon gets into the Irish Mob ran by Jackie's brother Frankie Flannery(Ed Harris)while falling for Frankie and Jackie's little sister Kathleen(Robin Wright). Unknown to the Flannery's,Terry is secretly an undercover cop investigating Frankie and his crew and Terry has to deal with violence,loyalty and betrayal.Released in 1990,State Of Grace is a brilliant and powerful Gangster Film that received rave reviews from movie critics but suffered from bad timing having been released right around the same time as Martin Scorsese's excellent Gangster classic Gooodfellas which led to State Of Grace being a failure at the Box Office and being overlooked by audiences. But thanks to Home Video and Cable Television showings State Of Grace has found a second life and audience and is seen as the underrated movie that it is. Right from it's haunting and ominous opening State Of Grace is an intense and dark Crime Drama that gives viewers all of the great elements and trademarks that are often associated with the Gangster movie genre:gangsters,violence and betrayal with a tragic and downbeat style that punches viewers in the face with nonstop grit and brutality. There are themes of family,friendship and loyalty are repeated throughout in State Of Grace but like in other Gangster movies and State Of Grace family,friendship and loyalty can be distorted and thrown out the window and are replaced by violence,death and blood. One of the things that I have always loved about State Of Grace is the tone and style of the characters and the film which is rooted in the genre of Film Noir. The characters and tone of the movie is very grim and realistic mixed with a stylish looked that fits in the world that State Of Grace shows and in most of the scenes and the characters are surrounded by darkness with no happiness or optimistic outcome. The photography by Jordan Cronenworth is beautiful and haunting using colors blue,brown and black adding to the film's tone. SOG also gives us one of the greatest and most realistic films about the Irish Mob ever depicted on screen(the film was inspired by the real life Hell's Kitchen Gang The Westies)because where the Italian Mob is more flashy and stylish with expensive suits,the Irish Mob tend to be more working class and dirty with black leather jackets and less expensive suits while sometimes wearing jeans. The Irish gangsters in SOG don't follow or go by the same rules as their Italian counterparts and in their own way can be just as vicious as the Italian Mob. When you watch SOG you are absorbed into the world of the Irish Mafia and what it's like to be in it. Along with Martin Scorsese's The Departed and The Coen Brothers Miller's Crossing State Of Grace is one of my favorite films about Irish Gangsters. The main characters in State Of Grace is one of the things that drives the film and keeps you glued to the screen whether it's Terry,Frankie,Jackie or Kathleen because with all them there is an emotional conflict that hangs over each one of them dealing with love,tragedy and guilt as well and even though you might not always like them or the things they do but the characters have an interesting quality that makes you want to know more about them. The violence in SOG is shocking and bloody but is necessary because of the story and tragic tone of the movie. The screenplay by Dennis McIntyre is fantastic and memorable,with McIntyre giving the characters incredible dialog and scenes that are gritty that fits with the tough world the movie shows. The ending of State Of Grace is amazing,powerful and in my opinion one of the best endings I have seen in a Gangster film and so great you will never look at the St. Patrick's Day Parade the same way again. An unforgettable ending.The whole cast is terrific. Sean Penn is excellent as Terry Noonan,with Penn bringing emotional depth to the role. Ed Harris is magnificent and intense as Frankie Flannery,an Irish Mob leader and Jackie's older brother. Gary Oldman is brilliant,unforgettable and gives the film's best performance as Jackie Flannery,Terry's best friend and Frankie's hot headed Brother. Robin Wright is wonderful as Kathleen Flannery,Frankie and Jackie's young sister and Terry's love interest. John Turturro(Nick),John C. Reilly(Steve),Burgess Meredith(Finn),R.D Call(Pat Nicholson,Frankie's Lieutenant)and Joe Viterelli(Borelli)give good performances as well.The direction by Phil Joanou is brilliant and stylish,with Joanou constantly moving the camera and bringing a unique visual style to the film and using slow motion and beautiful lighting to great effect. Amazing direction,Joanou.The score by Ennio Morricone is outstanding,powerful,intense and matches the dark and somber tone of the film. A great score by Morricone.In final word,if you love Gangster Films,Mob Movies or Crime Dramas,I highly suggest you see State Of Grace,an excellent,underrated and powerful Gangster Film/Crime Drama that is the Gangster films and Crime Dramas at their best. Highly Recommended. 10/10.

billcr12 I'll start with the positive, which is a great cast led by Sean Penn, and supported by Gary Oldman, Ed Harris, and John C. Reilly. They are all as good as expected. The negative is the over two hour length, and the overall darkness of the film. Sean Penn is Terry Noonan, and he has returned to Hell's Kitchen in New York after a long absence. He reunites with his old friends, Jackie and Frankie, and also hooks up with Jackie's sister, Kathleen. His buddies are members of the Westies, the notorious Irish mobsters of Manhattan. Terry is actually an undercover cop, sent to infiltrate the gang. Jackie shoots and kills three Italian Mafia guys, and their boss meets with his brother, Frankie, and he is ordered to kill his sibling. He sets him up at a meeting for a cash payment, and shoots him. Terry finds out, and winds up in a shoot out with the Westies at a bar. The ending is rather ambiguous, and, overall, State of Grace never clicked for me.